Furst



Feb. 7, 1956 s. FURST THREAD WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 2. 1952 THREAD WINDING APPARATUS tefan Fiirst, Munchen-Gladbach,Rhineland, Germany, assignor to Walter Reiners, Waldniel, Lower Rhine,Germany The present invention relates to a thread winding apparatus.

Such an apparatus is used in the textile industry and normally includesvarious devices which are adapted, for example, to change an exhaustedsupply spool, change a full take-up spool, and tie a knot in a brokenthread.

More particularly, the present invention relates to control arrangementfor controlling automatic devices of the above type.

One of the objects of the present invention is to prevent all conflictin the automatic operation of the abovementioned various devices of athread winding apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to operate one or more ofthese devices during a predetermined cycle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusof the above type wherein the devices, such as automatic take-up andsupply spool changing devices and an automatic knot tieing device, areall completely independent of each other.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a means foroperating these devices in a desired.

predetermined sequence;

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of astructure capable of accomplishing all of the above objects while at thesame time being made of simple, easily obtainable, inexpensive partswhich cooperate together in anefiicient and reliable manner to producethe desired results.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists ofa thread winding apparatus having a plurality of independent, automaticdevices for carrying out ditferent parts of the thread windingoperation. A control means is associated with these devices forrespectively operating the same in a predetermined sequence duringdifferent portions of one of the control means. All but one of thedevices are each joined to a releasable connecting means for connectingand disconnecting the same to and from the control means so that thelatter may operate only the said one of the devices during the saidcycle. This control means preferably takes the form of a cam shafthaving a number of cams thereon respectively associated with thedifferent devices, and these cams are in a non-overlapping phaserelation with each other so that the various devices are all operatedduring different portions of a revolution of the cam shaft. All of thevarious devices each include a lever, such as a feeler lever, forcontrolling the operation thereof so as to render all these devicesindependent of each other.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are setforth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

2,733,870 Patented Feb. 7, 1956 Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of onepossible apparatus for carrying out the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a graph illustrating the sequence of operation of variousparts of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown therein the shaft 1 upon whichthe guide roller 2 is mounted for rotation, this guide roller 2 beingturned in opposite dire c tions by any suitable drive means (not shown)during different parts of the operation of the structure of Fig. 1. Thethread F passes over the guide roller 2 and is Wound on a take-up spool3, the latter being rotated by frictional contact with the guide roller2. The take-up spool 3 is mounted on a take-up spool support 4, part ofwhich is in the form of a lever 6 mounted for pivotal movement on andabout the stationary pivot pin 5 of the apparatus. A weight '7 isfixedly mounted adjacent the outer free end of lever 6 to. urge thetake-up spool 3 against the roller 2 to be driven thereby. Thelever 6also carries a pivot pin which is mounted for rotation thereon, thispivot pin 3 being bored so as to slidably receive the rod 9 in the borethereof, this rod 9 being provided with a stop member 10 to engage thelever 6. Also mounted on the lever 6 is a movable electric contact 11,adapted to move with the lever 6, this movable contact being locatedopposite a stationary contact 12 to contact the same when the diameterof spool 3 reaches a predetermined magnitude. The contacts Ill and 12are located in a circuit which is supplied with current by the battery13 and which includes electromagnetic windings located about the core14.

The thread F is supplied to the take-up spool 3 from a supply spool 15,the thread being drawn from the latter by rotation of the take-up spool3. The thread issuing from supply spool 15 is guided over thread guidemembers 16 and 17, between which a feeler lever 18 is located. From theguide 17, the thread F passes between a thread tensioning device 19 anda thread cleaner 26.

After passing from the thread cleaner 2%, the thread is contacted by afeeier lever 21 and is then guided over the thread guide 22 to the guideroller 2.

The support structure for the supply spool 15 comprises a supporting pin23 upon which the supply spool 15is located. This pin 23 is fixedlyconnected to a bell crank lever 25, 26 which is pivotally mounted on thestationary pin 24 of the apparatus. The lever 25, 26 is connected to aspring 2'7 so as to be urged by the latter in a clockwise directionabout the pin 24,as viewed in Fig. 1.. The portion 25 of lever 25, 26 isthereby urged against spool 15, there is located a trough 35 which isfixedlymounted on the stationary support member 36. A supply chute 37,holding supply spools 15' therein, is located over the troughSS, thesupply spools 15' being arranged in chute 3'7 in a position where theyare adapted to suecessively fall onto the chute 35. The threads F,extending from each of the supply spools 15', extend into a suction tube33 so as to be thereby held in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Atiltable release member 39 is mounted on the chute 37 to release onlythe lowermost spool 15' when the release, member 39 is turned in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. This member 39 islinked to the upper end of a rod 40 which is linked at its lower end tothe lever portion 30 of lever 30, 31, 32, to be actuated thereby. 1

The feeler lever 18 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the bellcrank lever 41 which is mounted for pivotal movement on the stationarypin 42. A rod 43 inter- 3 connects the bell crank lever 41 with a rod44, this rod 43 being pivotally connected to the latter two members. Therod 44 is pivotally suspended from the lever portion 32 of lever 30, 31,32 and is somewhat hook-shaped at its lower end 45.

The thread cleaner cooperates with the lever 47, 48 which is mounted forturning movement on the stationary pivot pin 46 of the apparatus, theportion 47 of this latter lever forming a part of the cleaning device20. The portion 48 of lever 47, 48 is made of a magnetic material so asto be attracted to the core 14 when the electrical circuit 11, 12, 13 isenergized. The feeler lever 21 is mounted for turning movement on astationary pivot pin 49 of the apparatus and carries on its left endportion 50, as viewed in Fig. 1, a movable contact 51 movable with leverportion and located opposite the stationary contact 52 located in line53 in which the battery 54 also is located. The line 56 extends fromcontact 51 to the coil which is connected to the battery 54 so thatcurrent flows through coil 55 when contacts 51 and 52 engage each other.A pawl 57 in the form of a solenoid core passes through the coil 55 soas to be moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, when the latter isenergized, a spring (not shown) being connected to the pawl 57 to urgethe same toward the disc 59. This disc 59 is formed with a notch 58which is engaged by the right hand end of pawl 57, as viewed in Fig. 1,so that rotation of disc 59 is prevented until coil 55 is energized,after which the disc 59 may turn through one revolution until the pawl57 again automatically engages the notch 58 under the action of theabove-mentioned spring. This disc 59 is fixedly mounted on the cam shaft60, which is operatively connected to any suitable drive means (notshown) to be rotated thereby in the direction of arrow 64 when disc 59is released by pawl 57 upon energizing of coil 55. The cam shaft 60 hasfixedly mounted thereon the cams 61, 62 and 63.

The cam 61 is formed with a groove 65 in which the bent end of rod 66 islocated, this rod 66 extending slidably through the stationary bearing67 so as to be reciprocated upon turning of cam 61. This rod 66 ispivotally connected at 68 to the lever 69 which is mounted for turningmovement on the stationary shaft 70 of the apparatus. At 72 there ispivotally connected to portion 71 of lever 69 a rack 73, and at 74 thereis pivotally connected to lever portion 71 a-rack 75. The rack 73 hasthe teeth thereof in engagement with the pinion 76 fixedly connected tothe suction tube 77 which is mounted in the apparatus for turningmovement about point 78. The open end 79 of suction tube 77, uponmovement of rack 73, moves along the dot-dash line 80 to the point 79'.The rack 75, which is maintained in the illustrated position by anysuitable support means (not shown) such as a spring, has the teeththereof in engagement with the pinion 81 fixedly connected to thesuction tube 82 which is mounted for turning movement about the axis ofpinion 81 so that the open end 83 of suction tube 82 moves along thedot-dash line 84 to the point 83' upon movement of rack 75. A knottieing device 85 is located in the apparatus between the tubes 77 and 82and includes the turnable lever 86 which is adapted to be moved by theright-hand.

end of rack 73, as viewed in Fig. 1, to set the knot tieing mechanism 85into operation.

The cam 62 is located against lever 87 to operate the same, this lever87 being mounted for turning movement on the stationary pin 88 which islocated on the support 89. Also located on this support 89 is astationary pivot pin 90 which pivotally supports a lever 91 which restson the stationary stop 92 of the apparatus. The lever 91 is providedwith a somewhat hook-shaped end 93 and is pivotally connected at 94 tothe lower end of rod 9. The lever 87 is linked at 95 to the rod 96 whichcarries a fixed collar 97 and a'coil spring 98 bearing against thiscollar. The spring 98 also bears against a fixed guide 99 of theapparatus, the rod 96 extending through guide 99 to be guided thereby,and the spring 98 in this way urges lever 87 against cam 62. The lever96 is pivotally connected at 100 to the rod 101 which at its lower endcarries a pro jection 102 adapted to cooperate with end 93 of lever 91and at its upper end is linked at 103 to the rod 104 which is pivotallyconnected to lever portion 105 of lever 105, 106. The lever portion 106is in the form of a transporting device and is pivotally mountedtogether with lever portion 105 on the stationary pin 107 of theapparatus. A spring 108 is connected to lever portion 106 to urge thesame into the illustrated position of rest against the stationary stop109 of the machine. The upper end of lever portion 106 is formed with acut out 110 to receive a spool sleeve 111 from the supply chute 112.

The cam 63 operates on the double arm lever 113, 114 which is mountedfor turning movement on the stationary pin 116 that is fixedly connectedto the staionary support 115. Lever portion 113 is heavier than leverportion 114 so as to remain in engagement with cam 63, and the righthandend 117 of lever portion 114 is bent to cooperate with the somewhathook-shaped end 45 of rod 44.

It will be noted that all of the cams 61, 62 and 63 are shaped so thatmost of the operating parts thereof are located in a circle about theaxis of shaft 60, and these parts of the cams therefore will have noeffect on the parts operatively connected thereto. Each of the cams isformed with a projecting portion extending from only a small partthereof, and this projecting portion produces the desired operation ofthe parts during a small part of the revolution of each cam. It willfurther be noted that the projecting portions of the cams are alllocated in a non-overlapping phase relationship with each other so thateach cam will operate the part connected thereto during a part of arevolution of cam shaft 60 when the other cams are not actuating theparts connected thereto.

The above described apparatus operates in the following manner:

When the thread moving toward the guide roller 2 breaks, the feelerlever 21, which is held in the illustrated position by the thread, turnsabout point 49 to close the contacts 51 and 52 and thereby energize coil55. The

. pawl 57 is thereby withdrawn from notch 58, and the above-mentioneddrive means (not shown) then turns the shaft 60 through one revolutionin the direction of arrow 64.

During the first part of this revolution the cam 63 actuates the doublelever 113, 114 to turn the same in a clockwise direction about the pin11.6, as viewed in Fig. 1. However, as long as end 45 of lever 44 islocated in the illustrated position beyond the range of end 117 of leverportion 114, the actuation of lever 113, 114 will have no effect on theapparatus. During a further part of the revolution of shaft 60, afterthe projection of cam 63 has moved beyond lever portion 113, theprojection of cam 65 actuates the rod 66 and moves the same to the left,as viewed in Fig. 1, through the guide 67. This results in a turning ofthe lever 69, 71 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, aboutthe shaft '70. This turning of lever portion 71 results in a movement ofracks 73 and 75 to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, but before thismovement of the racks the rotation of guide roller 2 has been reversedby a known apparatus connected thereto and not illustrated in thedrawings, so that this roller 2 now turns in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1. The suction tube 77 holds, at its mouth 79, the end ofthe broken thread attached to the take-up spool 3 and moves this end ofthe broken thread to the point 79'. The mouth 83 of suction tubes 82pulls on the other broken end of the thread and moves the same to thepoint 83, the tubes 77 and 82 being turned simultaneously by the racks73 and 75, respectively, and being located in different planes so thatthe movement of one of the suction tubes does not in any way conflictwith the movement of the other of the suction tubes. The suction tube 32pulls thread from the supply spool 15. When the ends of the brokenthread are located at points 79 and 83', thesep arate thread portionsextend across the knot tieihg' device 85 to be tied thereby in a knownmanner, this knot ti'eing device 85 being actuated by movement of lever86 which is moved by the right-hand end of rack 73.

The above-described operation is based on the assumption that there isthread still remaining on the supply spool 15. if, when the feeler lever21 moves as described above in the case of a thread break, there is adownward movement of feeler lever 18. This indicates that the supplyspool is exhausted and that there is no thread between the supply spool15 and thread tensioner 19. in this case, the downward movement offeeler 18 causes the bell crank lever 41 to turn about pivot 42 in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and this causes the rod 44 toswing to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, so that the end 45 thereof islocated beneath the end 117 of lever portion 114; Therefore, when thelever 113, 114 is actuated by cam 63, asdescribed above, the clockwiseturning of lever portion 114 produces a downward movement of rod 44 anda clockwise turning of lever 30, 31, 32 about pivot 29. The clockwiseturning of lever portion 3% causes the empty spool sleeve of supplyspool 15 to be moved off from the support pin 23. The further turning oflever 38, 31, 32 causes the lever portion 31 to engage lever portion 25and turn the same in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 24 againstthe action of spring 27. At the same time the rod 4-6 moves upwardly toturn the release member 35; in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 1, so that a fresh supply spool 15' falls out of chute 37. Thissupply spool 15' falls onto the trough35 and is guided thereby to slideonto the pin 23 which has been turned by the turning of lever 25, 26 toa position to receive the new supply spool 15 which falls onto the chute35. The further turning of cam 63 perrhits the springs 27 and 34' toreturn the supply spool changing mechanism to its position to restillustrated in Fig. 1, so that a new supply spool is located in an operative position in the apparatus and the thread F thereof is now locatedin the region where it comes under the influence of the 'mou'thdli ofthe suction tube 82. The movement of thread F by the suction force oftube mouth 83' causes the same to move beneath the upper end of feel-erlever 18 which has been returned to the illusti'ated position by spring34, any suitable guide means (not shown) being provided to guide theupward and downward movement of feeler lever 18; .inthe above describedmanner the changing of the supply spool takes place only when the lever18' moves downwardly due to a lack of thread issuing from the supplyspool. The duration of time required for the changing of the supplyspool is controlled by the cam 63 which enables the entire supply spooloperation to take place before the projecting portion of cam 61aetuates' the rod- 66.

V During the winding of thread onto the take-up spool 3, the lever 6 isturned in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 5 so as to raise therod 9 and the lever 91 therewith. When the diameter of take up spool 3has reached a predetermined magnitude, the end -3 of lever 91 will belocated across the path of movement of end 102 of rod 1%. Therefor whenthe cam 62 is turned with the lever 91 in the latter position where end$3 thereof extends across the end 162 of lever 101, the end 93 of lever91 will engage end 102 of lever 101 and cause the latter to turn in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, about its end 1 32. Inthis way the earn 162 will actuate the lever 195, 106 to move afreshtake-up spool sleeve 11?, to thetake-up spoolsupport 4, the extehsion atthe upper end of lever portion 106, preventing successive sleeves 111 insupply chute 112 from falling out of the same. A known means (not shown)is provided in the machine t'o'release the full take-up spool 3 from thesupport 4-, to mount the new sleeve 111 on the latter, and to join the'thread to the'ernpty sleeve 111 on support 4 so asto be wotind on thissleeve 1'11.

The above described take-up spool changing mechanisni is adapted to beindependently actuated through the medium of movable contact 11 on lever6. When the take-up spool is full, the contact 11 will have moved intoengagement with the contact 12 to energize the core 14 which therebyattracts the lever portion as so as to turn the lever portion 47 ofthread cleaner 2% in a counterclockwise dircction, as viewed in Fig. i.This movement of lever portion 47 causes the thread F to be torn by thethread cleaner so as to actuate the apparatus in the abovedescribedmanner.

The above-described structure of Fig. 1 is only illustrative of one typeof apparatus to which the invention may be applied. The invention isgenerally applicable to all types of machines which include severaldevices for automatically carrying out parts of the thread windingoperation. For example, the above apparatus obviously is equallyapplicable to a machine where the supply spool is changed before it iscompletely empty and where a feeler means is provided to initiate thechanging of the supply spool when a predetermined amount of threadremains thereon.

The operation of the above-described structure of Fig. 1 is graphicallyillustrated in Fig. 2 where the horizontal distance between the extremeleft-hand ordinate and ordinate 122 corresponds to one revolution of thecam shaft 60. The changing of the supply spool takes place only betweenthe left-hand ordinate and the ordinate 120. The knot tieing operationtakes place only between ordinates and 121, and the take-up spoolchanging operation takes place only between ordinates 121 and 122. Thetopmost line extending across the graph of Fig. 2 indicates theoperation of feeler lever 21 which moves out of its position of restduring the changing of the empty spool and knot tieing operation andback into its position of rest during the third part of the revolutionof cam shaft 60 in the event that a supply spool is not changed duringthis third part of the revolution. The dot-dash portion of the movementof feeler lever 21 indicates its position whena supply spool is beingchanged, the feeler lever 21 swinging back into its operative positionat point 124 of this dot-dash portion.

The second line from the top, in the graph of Fig. 2, indicates thedirection of rotation of the guiding roller 2, the plus areas indicatingcounterclockwise turning of roller 2, as viewed in Fig. l, and the minusarea indicating clockwise turning of roller 2, as viewed in Fig. 1. Itwill be seen that during the changing of the supply spool, the roller 2starts turning in a clockwise direction and continues to turn in aclockwise direction until the knot tieing operation is almost completewhen it again turns in a counterclockwise direction unless a take-upspool is being changed. If the latter operation takes place, the roller2 remains stationary during most of this operation, as shown by thedot-dash line 123 of Fig. 2.

The next three lines below the roller 2 line of the graph of Fig. 2respectively indicate the movement of the suction tube 77, the suctiontube 82, and the knot tieing mechanism 85. As is clearly shown in Fig.2, these parts of the apparatus operate only during the intermediateknot tieing portion of the rotation of cam shaft 66, the tubes 77 and 82operating both before and after the operation of knot tieing mechanism85.

The next line down indicates the operation of the feeler lever 18 which,as shown, is located out of its position of rest during the changing ofa supply spool and during the knot tieing operation, this feeler lever18 being again located in its position of rest during the third part ofthe revolution of cam shaft 60 in the event that a take-up spool is notbeing changed. If a take-up spool is being changed, the feeler lever 18remains out of its position of rest, as shown by the dot-dash line, andreturns to its position of rest at point 124.

The next line down on the graph illustrates the movement of leverportion 30 which, as shown, moves only during the first part'of therevolution of cam shaft 60, in the event that a supply spool is changed.If a supply spool is not changed the lever portion 34) remainsstationary during this first part of the revolution of cam shaft 60, asshown by the dot-dash line, and the same is true of lever 18.

The next-to-last line from the bottom of the graph of Fig. 2 illustratesthe operation of the parts 93-102 which are operated by the increasingdiameter of the take-up spool.

The bottom line of the graph of Fig. 2 illustrates the operation oflever 186, of the take-up spool changing mechanism, which, as shown,moves only during the last third of a revolution of the cam shaft 60.

It will be noted that with the above described structure, each of theindependent mechanisms of the apparatus necessarily operates at separatetimes so that no special structure is required to prevent conflictingmovements of the parts of the apparatus. Such structure would berequired if two or more of the mechanisms could operate simultaneously.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofthread Winding apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in athread winding apparatus having a means for operating various partsthereof in a predetermined sequence, it is not intended to be limited tothe details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Thread winding apparatus having a supply spool and take-up spool andcomprising in combination, an automatic supply spool changing device, anautomatic take-up spool changing device, and an automatic knot tieingdevice, said devices being independent of each other; control meansengaging said devices for respectively operating the same in apredetermined sequence during different portions of one cycle of saidcontrol means; and a plurality of automatic, releasable connecting meansrespectively joined to all but one of said devices for connecting anddisconnecting the same from said control means so that the latter mayoperate only said one of said devices during said cycle.

2. Thread winding apparatus having a supply spool and take-up spool andcomprising in combination, an automatic supply spool changing device, anautomatic take-up spool changing device, and an automatic knot tieingdevice, said devices being independent of each other; control meansengaging said devices for respectively operating the same in apredetermined sequence during different portions of one cycle of saidcontrol means; and a pair of automatic, releasable connecting meansrespectively joined to said supply and take-up spool changing devicesfor connecting and disconnecting the same from said control means sothat the latter may operate only said knot tieing device during saidcycle.

3. In a thread winding apparatus, in combination, a plurality ofindependent, automatic, independently operable devices for carrying outdifferent parts of the thread winding operation; a cam shaft having aplurality of cams thereon respectively. engaging said devices forpermanently operating one of said devices and for operating the otherdevices in a predetermined sequence said cams all being out of phasewith each other to respectively operate said devices during differentportions of said cycle; and a plurality of automatic releasableconnecting means respectively joined to said other devices forconnecting and disconnecting the same from said cams whenever requiredso that said cams may operate only said one of said devices during saidrevolution.

4. Thread winding apparatus having a supply spool and take-up spool andcomprising, in combination, an automatic supply spool changing device,an automatic take-up spool changing device, and an automatic knot tieingdevice, said devices being independent of each other; a cam shaftcarrying three cams which are in a non-overlapping phase relation witheach other and V which are respectively in engagement with said devicesfor respectively operating the same in a predetermined sequence duringdifferent portions of one revolution of said cam shaft; and a pair ofautomatic, releasable connecting means respectively joined to saidsupply and take-up spool changing devices for connecting anddisconnecting the same from the two cams in engagement therewith so thatonly said knot tieing device will be operated during said revolution.

5. Thread winding apparatus having a supply spool and take-up spool andcomprising in combination, an automatic supply spool changing device, anautomatic take-up spool changing device, and an automatic knot tieingdevice, said devices being independent of each other and each comprisinga feeler means to independently set each of said devices into operation;a cam shaft carrying three cams which are in a non-overlapping phaserelation with each other and which are respectively in engagement withsaid devices for respectively operating the same in a predeterminedsequence during different portions of one revolution of said cam shaft;and a pair of automatic, releasable connecting means respectively joinedto said supply and take-up spool changing devices for connecting anddisconnecting the same from the two cams in engagement therewith so thatonly said knot tieing device will be operated during said revolution.

6. Thread winding apparatus having a supply spool and take-up spool andcomprising in combination, an automatic supply spool changing device, anautomatic take-up spool changing device, and an automatic knot tieingdevice, said devices being independent of each other; a cam shaftcarrying three cams which are in a non-overlapping phase relation witheach other and which are respectively in engagement with said devicesfor respectively operating the same in a predetermined sequence duringdifferent portions of one revolution of said cam shaft; and a pair ofautomatic, releasable connecting means respectively joined to saidsupply and take-up spool changing devices for connecting anddisconnecting the same from the two cams in engagement therewith so thatonly said knot tieing device will be operated during said revolution,the cam in engagement with said take-up spool changing device having aprojection which operates the latter toward the end of said revolutionso that said supply spool changing and knot tieing devices are operatedbefore said take-up spool changing device.

7. Thread winding apparatus having a supply spool and take-up spool andcomprising in combination, an automatic supply spool changing device, anautomatic take-up spool changing device, and an automatic knot tieingdevice, said devices being independent of each other; a cam shaftcarrying three cams which are in a non-overlapping phase relation witheach other and which are respectively in engagement with said devicesfor respectively operating the same in a predetermined a 9' sequenceduring different portions of one revolution of said' camshaft; and apair of automatic, releasable con: necting means respectively joined tosaid supply and take-up spool changing devices for connecting" anddisconnecting the same from the two cams'in engagement therewith so thatonly said knot tieing device will beoperatedduring said revolution, thecam in engagement with said take-up spool changing device having aprojection'which operates the latter toward the end of said revolutionso that said supply spool changing and knot tieing devices are operated'before said take-up spool changing device and the cam in engagement withsaid supply spool changing device being located on said cam shaft tooperateduring the first part of said revolution so that said knot tieingdevice is operated after said supply spoolchanging device and beforesaid take-up spool changing device. h p N k p 8. Thread' windingapparatus, comprising in combination, a supply spool support; a take-upspool support spaced from said'supply spool" support; guide meanslocated between said supply and take-up spool supports for guidingthread from a supply spool to a take-up spool to be wound thereon; afeeler lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus andhaving an end portionmovable transversely through the space between said supports so as tocontact the thread moving between the spools; a movable electricalcontact mounted on said feeler lever for movement therewith during aninterruption in the thread between the spools; an electrical circuitincluding a stationary 'c'onta'ct' located opposite said movable contactto be contacted thereby upon movement of said, feeler lever so as toclose said electrical circuit at said interruption; a knot tieingmechanism located on the apparatus between said supports; a cam shafthaving a first cam thereon operatively connected to said knot tieingmechanism to operate the same upon rotation of said cam shaft; pawlmeans operatively connected to said cam shaft to prevent operationthereof and being located in said electrical circuit to be moved uponclosing of the latter into an inoperative position to permit rotation ofsaid cam shaft; a supply spool changing mechanism mounted on theapparatus adjacent to said supply spool support; a second cam mounted onsaid cam shaft and being in engagement with said supply spool changingmechanism to operate the latter upon rotation of said cam shaft; atake-up spool changing mechanism located'adjacent to said take-up spoolsupport; a third cam mounted on said cam shaft and being in engagementwith said take-up spool changing mechanism to operate the latter uponrotation of said cam shaft; first connecting means joined to said supplyspool changing mechanism for operatively connecting the same to saidsecond cam only when a supply spool is exhausted; and second connectingmeans joined to said take-up spool changing mechanism to connect thesame to said third cam only when a take-up spool is full, said first,second and third cams being in a nonoverlapping phase relation with eachother so that said mechanisms are independently operated duringdifferent portions of a revolution of said cam shaft.

9. Thread winding apparatus, comprising in combination, a supply spoolsupport; a take-up spool support spaced from said supply spool support;guide means located between said supply and take-up spool supports forguiding thread from a supply spool to a take-up spool to be woundthereon; a first feeler lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus andhaving an end portion movable transversely through the space betweensaid supports so as to contact the thread moving between the spools; amovable electrical contact mounted on said first feeler lever formovement therewith during an interruption in the thread betweenthespools; an electrical circuit including a stationary contact locatedopposite said movable contact to be contacted thereby upon movement ofsaid first feeler lever so as to close said electrical circuit at saidinterrruption; aknottieing mechanism located on the apparatus betweensaid supports; a cam shaft having; a first cam thereon operativelyconnected to said knot tieing mechanism to operate the same uponrotation of said cam shaft; pawl means operatively connected to said camshaft to prevent operation thereof and being located in said electricalcircuit to be moved upon closing of the latter intoan inoperativeposition to permit rotation' of said cam shaft; a supply spool changingmechanism mounted on the apparatus adjacent to said supply spoolsupport; a second c'ammounted on said camshaft and being in engagementwith said supply spool changing mechanism to operate the latter uponrotation of said cam shaft; a take-up spool changing mechanism locatedadjacent to said take-up spool support; a third cam mounted on said camshaft and being in engagement with said take-up spool changing mechanismto operate the latter upon rotation of said camshaft; first connectingmeans joined to said supply spool changing mechanism for operativelyconnecting the same to said second cam only when a' supply spool isexhausted,,said first connecting means comprising a second feeler leveradapted tocontact thread between said supports so as to be moved whenthread no longer i'ssue's'from a supply spool to place said firstconnecting means in the connecting position thereof; and secondconnecting means joined to said take-up spool changing mechanism toconnect the same to said third cam only when a take-up spool is full,said first, second and third camsbeing in a non o'verlapping phaserelation with each other so that said mechanisms are independentlyoperated during different portions of a revolution of said cam shaft,said second connecting means comprising a third lever forming part ofsaid take-up spool support and being pivotally mounted on the apparatusfor turning movement during winding of thread on a take-up spool, saidthird lever, upon reaching a predetermined position, placing said secondconnecting mechanism in the connecting position thereof.

10. Thread winding apparatus, comprising in combination, a supply spoolsupport; a take-up spool support spaced from said supply spool suport;guide means located between said supply and take-up spool supports forguiding thread from a supply spool to a take-up spool to be woundthereon; 'a first feeler lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus andhaving an end portion movable transversely through the space betweensaid supports so as to contact the thread moving between the spools; amovable electrical contact mounted on said first feeler lever formovement therewith during an interruption in the thread between thespools; an electrical circuit including a stationary contact locatedopposite said movable contact to be contacted thereby upon movement ofsaid first feeler lever so as to close said electrical circuit at saidinterruption; a knot tieing mechanism located on the apparatus betweensaid supports; a cam shaft having a first cam thereon operativelyconnected to said knot tieing mechanism to operate the same uponrotation of said cam shaft; pawl means operatively connected to said camshaft to prevent operation thereof and being located in said electricalcircuit to be moved upon closing of the latter into an inoperativeposition to permit rotation of said cam shaft; a supply spool changingmechanism mounted on the apparatus adjacent to said supply spoolsupport; a second cam mounted 011 said cam shaft and being in engagementwith said supply spool changing mechanism to operate the latter uponrotation of said cam shaft; a take-up spool changing mechanism locatedadjacent to said take-up spool support; a'third cam mounted on said camshaft and being in engagement with said take-up spool changing mechanismto operate the latter upon rotation of said cam shaft; first connectingmeans joined to said supply spool changing mechanism for 0perativelyconnecting the same to said second cam only when a supply spool isexhausted, said first connecting means comprising a second feeler leveradapted to contact thread between said supports so asto be moved whenthread no longer issues from a supply spool to place said firstconnecting means in the connecting position thereof; second connectingmeans joined to said take-up spool changing mechanism to connect thesame to said third cam only when a take-up spool is full, said first,second and third cams being in a non-overlapping phase relation witheach other so that said mechanisms are independently operated duringdifferent portions of a revolution of said cam shaft, said secondconnecting means comprising a third lever forming part of said takeupspool support and being pivotally mounted on the apparatus for turningmovement during winding of thread on a take-up spool, said third lever,upon reaching a predetermined position, placing said second connectingmechanism in the connecting position thereof; and thread breaking meansoperatively connected to said third lever to be operated thereby whensaid third lever reaches said predetermined position, whereby the breakin the thread by said thread breaking means initiates the rotation ofsaid cam shaft to bring about the replacement of a full take-up spool.

11. In a thread Winding apparatus having a supply spool and a take-upspool, in combination, an automatic supply spool changing device, andautomatic take-up spool changing deviceIand an automatic knot tyingdevice, said devices being independent of each other and independentlyoperable during subsequent cycles of operation; and control meansengaging said devices for operating during each of said cycles ofoperation only of said knot tying device or operating said knot tieingdevice and at least one of the other of 'said devices in a predeterminedsequence during different portions of one cycle of operation. I

12. Thread winding apparatus having a supply spool and a take-up spooland comprising, in combination, an automatic supply spool changingdevice, an automatic take-up spool changing device, and an automaticknot tieing device, said devices being independent of each other; andcontrol means engaging said devices for respectively operating the samein a predetermined sequence during different portions of one cycle ofsaid control means, said control means including a shaft which turnsthrough one revolution during said cycle and said different portions ofsaid cycle each taking place during a third of a revolution of saidshaft, so that one of said devices is operated during one third of arevolution of said shaft, another of said devices is operated during asecond third of said revolution of said shaft, and the third of saiddevices is operated during the remaining third of said revolution ofsaid shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,208,930 Kahlish July 23, 1940 2,234,355 Reiners et al. Mar. 11, 19412,306,871 Esser et a1. Dec. 29, 1942 2,439,519 Marcellus Apr. 13, 1948FOREIGN PATENTS 123,902 Sweden Jan. 25, 1949

